2

United States: In mayoral elections in New Orleans, Ray Nagin wins 29% of the votes and Richard Pennington 23%; a runoff will be held on March 2.

3

Costa Rica: In presidential elections, Abel Pacheco of the Social Christian Unity Party wins 38.6% of the vote, Rolando Araya of the National Liberation Party 31.1%, and Ottón Solís of the Citizens' Action Party 26.2%. Turnout is 68.8%. A runoff will be held April 7. In parliamentary elections, the Social Christian Unity Party wins 29.8%, the National Liberation Party 27.1%, and the Citizens' Action Party 22%.

5

6

Moldova: Finance Minister Mihai Manoli resigns. Zinaida Greceanîi is appointed acting finance minister on February 8 and finance minister on February 26. Interior Minister Vasile Draganel resigns on February 27 and is replaced by Gheorghe Papuc.

7

Albania: President Rexhep Meidani asks Pandeli Majko to form a new cabinet. On February 16 Meidani accepts Majko's proposed cabinet, including Kastriot Islami as finance minister, Luan Rama as defense minister, and Stefan Çipa as interior minister; Arta Dade is to remain as foreign minister. The cabinet is approved by parliament on February 22.Yugoslavia: Veroljub Dugalic is named as acting finance minister until a new one is elected.

9

Australia: In state elections in South Australia, the Labor Party wins 36.7% of the vote and 23 seats, and the Liberal Party 39.7% and 20 seats.United States: Former acting governor of New Hampshire (1982-83) Vesta Roy dies.

10

United States: Former UN ambassador (1985-89) Vernon A. Walters dies.

11

Cook Islands: Prime Minister Terepai Maoate is ousted by a no-confidence vote. He is replaced by his deputy, Robert Woonton. In the new cabinet announced on February 12, former prime minister Sir Geoffrey Henry becomes finance minister and Peri Vaevae Pare interior minister.

12

13

British Virgin Islands: Tom Macan is appointed as new governor, to take office in October.Comoros: In a cabinet reshuffle Mohamed Ali Soilihi becomes finance minister and Assoumany Aboudou interior minister.

Singh

India: In state elections in Punjab, the Congress Party wins 64 of 117 seats and the Shiromani Akali Dal 43. Amarinder Singh is sworn in as chief minister on February 27.

14

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Beriz Belkic becomes chairman of the Presidency in accordance with the eight-month rotating system.Canada: Former lieutenant governor of Alberta (1996-2000) Bud Olson dies.India: In state elections in Uttaranchal, Congress wins 36 of 70 seats, the Bharatiya Janata Party 19, and the Bahujan Samaj Party 7; Chief Minister Bhagat Singh Koshiyari resigns on February 24.Yugoslavia: Michael Steiner takes office as Kosovo administrator.

15

Chettiar

Pillay

Offmann

Mauritius: President Cassam Uteem resigns. Vice President Angidi Chettiar becomes acting president, but resigns himself on February 18, leaving Chief Justice Ariranga Pillay as acting president until February 25, when parliament elects Karl Offmann as new president; Raouf Bundhun is elected vice president.

Cárdenas

Mexico: Lázaro Cárdenas Batel is sworn in as governor of Michoacán.

16

Somalia: Prime Minister Hassan Abshir Farah names and swears in his new cabinet, including Yusuf Hassan Ibrahim as foreign minister, Gen. Abdiwahab Muhammad Husayn as defense minister, Husayn Mahmud Shaykh Husayn as finance minister; Dahir Shaykh Muhammad remains as interior minister. The cabinet will have to win a vote of confidence in the Transitional National Assembly.United States: Former secretary of health, education and welfare (1965-68) John W. Gardner dies.United States: In the mayoral runoff in Dallas, Laura Miller is elected with 54.9% of the vote against 45.1% for Tom Dunning. She is sworn in on February 20.

18

Nigeria: Former Kaduna governor (1992-93) Mohammed Lere dies.

19

20

21

Australia: Former governor of New South Wales (1966-81) Sir Roden Cutler dies.India: In state elections in Manipur held February 14 and 21, the Congress wins 20 of 60 seats, the Federal Party of Manipur 13, the Manipur State Congress 7, and the Samata Party 3. In elections in Uttar Pradesh held February 14, 18, and 21, the Samajwadi Party wins 145 seats, the Bharatiya Janata Party 107, the Bahujan Samaj Party 98, and the Congress 25; Chief Minister Rajnath Singh resigns on February 24.

22

Ravalomanana

Madagascar: Marc Ravalomanana, who claims to have won the December presidential elections outright while official results gave him only a plurality, forcing him into a runoff with President Didier Ratsiraka which the government postponed until March 24, declares himself president. On February 26 he names Jacques Sylla as his prime minister. In the other camp Foreign Minister Lila Ratsifandrihamanana resigns on February 28 and is replaced by Azaly Ben Marofo. Also on February 28, Ratsiraka names Léon-Claude Raveloarison military governor of Antananarivo.

24

Laos: Parliamentary elections are held; all candidates were pre-picked by the Communist Party.

26

Nigeria: A court of appeal declares that Haliru Dantoro was validly elected in February 2000 and is the legitimate emir of Borgu.Venezuela: President Hugo Chávez replaces his finance minister, Nelson Merentes, with Gen. Francisco Usón.

27

Croatia: All cabinet members of the Croatian Social Liberal Party, including Defense Minister Jozo Rados, resign from the government.